Ecosystem and Social Science Considerations in U.S. Federal Fishery Management

October 4-6, 2011 — Williamsburg, VA

The 2006 revisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) placed renewed emphasis on the role of science in the management of our Nation’s living marine fishery resources. Central to this approach was the strengthening of the role of SSCs in the Council decision-making process of the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils, particularly with respect to the mandate that the Councils specify annual catch limits (ACLs) to prevent overfishing. In recognition of the increased demands placed on their SSCs in this new role, the Councils convened national meetings of the eight regional SSCs annually, beginning in 2008, to discuss major challenges the SSCs face and to help develop solutions to implementing new MSA ACL requirements and related scientific issues.

The fourth National Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Workshop was convened on October 4 - 6, 2011 to provide an opportunity for the eight SSCs to discuss ecosystem considerations in fishery management and to discuss the role of social science in both traditional single species and ecosystem based fishery management (EBFM). The meeting was hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) in Williamsburg, VA, with Dr. John Boreman (MAFMC SSC Chair) serving as workshop Chair.